2 posts tagged “iphone”
NOTE: This story was posted around 2:00PM CT. Some of this may be old, but I thought I might as well cross post it.
With the day that will live in infamy in Apple's eyes, consumers are going absolutely hysterical over Apple's new baby. The details are still rolling in about the iPhone and other related products to go along with the iPhone and I'm sure even more will be revealed after those waiting in line get their iPhone, but let's start with today's details and where we stand currently.
#1. AT&T's possible renovation of their cellular EDGE network. Apple has been criticized for not putting in a 3G compatible chipset in the iPhone so users can get broadband-like speeds on their iPhone, comparable to Verizon and Sprint's EVDO network. Before these couple weeks, people have complained that the speeds of EDGE that they were getting would simply translate into a horrible experience when using the fully-capable Safari browser. Now MacRumors, along with Engadget and HowardForums users, are reporting that they are seeing a boost in download speeds on EDGE. There were rumors going around that AT&T would increase the speeds due to pressure from Apple, and it's not clear whether this is just a temporary speed boost or a permanent speed boost.
#2. Ringtones on the iPhone. This is still a rumor, but due to the fact that the images are in the iTunes' 7.3 update, we can almost confirm this. Apple will allow you to put your own ringtones onto your own iPhone. According to Engadget Mobile, a user, and they also confirmed this as well, told them that in the directories for the iTunes program, that there is a GIF file titled "Ringtone.gif" and the image clearly shows the possibility of adding ringtones, due to the fact that the logo is a bell, an image widely recognized as a ringtone symbol on most phones. The pricing, if any, is unclear, and no details regarding whether you will be able to use your existing songs as a ringtone, or whether you will be forced to download them from the iTunes Music Store.
#3. Apple's Accessory Line. One of the first accessories for the iPhone released by Apple is their own Bluetooth headset that announced alongside the iPhone back at MacWorld 2007. The headset has a rated talk time of 5.5 hours and a standby time of 72 hours. It will include a dock that will both synchronize and charge the iPhone as well as charge the bluetooth headset. The dock, if it were not included with the headset, would cost $49. There is also a travel cable that will plug in to the bottom of the iPhone and also has a slot to plug the headset in, with a USB cable leading either to a USB Wall adapter, or your computer. A side-note, some accessories, such as some FM transmitters, may not work with the iPhone properly, causing the cellular radios to shut off due to the possibility of interference.
#4. The possibility of a 3G-capable iPhone for European networks. Guy Kewney of Newswireless is reporting that Apple has struck a deal, or at least close to, with European mobile carriers Vodafone and T-Mobile, as well as Carphone Warehouse as the MVNO, also more typically known as Pay-As-You-Go carriers. The announcement is expected to come Monday. Engadget Mobile is doubting this report because "do you really think Apple will provide Europe a 3G iPhone before the end of the year and not release it in the US at the same time?" It would make sense that the possibility is there because 3G networks are far more widespread in Europe than here in the United States.
And to end it with a humorous ending.
#5. Authority waiting in line for their iPhone. Engadget Mobile is reporting that Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street was spotted waiting in line at an Apple Store for his chance to get an iPhone. While they reported that he was there, they later updated that he left his spot and someone has taken the spot. No word yet on whether he will return.
There will be much more news later on in the day to go along with the release as more details come in.
Sources:
If you haven't been living under a rock, you have surely by now heard of Apple's new iPhone that will be released on June 29th, available only on AT&T Mobility/Wireless/Cingular/AT&Tingular, or my favorite, "The Carrier formerly known as Cingular." While Apple has pulled all the stops out to revolutionize the phone market, I have a few problems with it.
DISCLAIMER: This is all my opinion. Nobody is paying me to do this. I am not an Apple hater, as I am writing this on my personal iBook. [/DISCLAIMER]
1) Lack of UMTS/HSDPA. This is a big one. With most of the higher-end phones on AT&T's network having 3G connectivity, whether it by via UMTS or HSDPA, the iPhone, which will become the most expensive phone on the network, will NOT have broadband-like speeds over the cellular network. While Apple claims that the reason is that most people will be using WiFi instead at home, some people may not have WiFi connections at their home seeing as they may have only a desktop and have no need for WiFi.
2) Lack of 3rd Party Apps. Apple's solution: develop applications on the Web. My solution: give developers the SDK. With the Mac having such a great lineup of third-party applications, it astounds me as to why Apple wouldn't let third party applications onto the iPhone. I know they want to keep this phone locked down so they can do things to it as they see fit, I understand. But the thing about it is that I have no idea why Apple wouldn't have a third-party application testing department and make sure that the applications work to their requirements. Then in order to download the application, all iPhone users would have to do is go to the Apple Download Store on their phone and download the Application from there. That way Apple can be sure that the developers haven't slipped some sort of malicious code into the application.
3) Virtual keyboard. The idea of a virtual keyboard is very neat indeed, but what Apple should have done/should do is release a wireless physical keyboards where you can actually feel "click-backs." Most people these days are used to typing documents or text messages on either number pads or QWERTY keyboards and get some sort of feedback. While Apple says that it may take users only a day or two to get used to the new keyboard, it may take some people longer because of the lack of a physical "click-back" that people have been accustomed to.
4) No one-touch speed dial. At the very least, Apple could enable a feature that puts icons to people in their address book on their home page with a picture of them to have that type of speed dial, ala Treo 700wx. While some may think that just touching the icon you could accidentally call them, my solution is that you would have to hold the icon down for 3 seconds, a "dumb" phone standard.
5) The 5-year exclusive deal with AT&T. This is quite possibly one of the biggest downfalls. This means that all the new Apple innovations that will be released onto the iPhone will be limited to AT&T's network. While this is great AT&T, this means that some people who live in rural areas or have little-to-poor reception with AT&T will have no shot at getting this phone anytime soon unless they either move or AT&T expands their coverage. Now, this is not a shot at AT&T, seeing I was would switch to them if they were in our area to get away from Verizon, but Apple reducing the amount of innovations to a select number of people is quite sad, if pathetic, seeing as how the current Apple ideas can reach all around the globe because Apple ships all over the world for the most part.
So there you have it, 5 reasons why I think the iPhone is over-hyped. Have comments? Post them underneath.
